Leslie Averitt’s Pieces by Leslie bring fun to the table!
Historic Brookhaven resident Leslie Averitt’s path to entrepreneurship was shaped by many things, including her post-college years. She majored in consumer economics at UGA, which she describes as a blend of economics and life skills. “I probably should have pursued something more creative as I am more of a right-brain person,” she says. After choosing the corporate path and working in medical device sales, she became a mom. As her kids got older, she shifted her attention to something more in line with her need for creative fulfillment: geode glassware company Pieces by Leslie, which she debuted in January. Here, she shares her company’s story.
How did the idea for a geode glassware company come to you?
My mom, my sister and I were hanging out one night and admiring a gift a friend, Sarah Olsen, had given me. She is the co-founder of S. Carter Designs, and she makes really cool jewelry with stones, diamonds and gold. She’s been a great mentor, friend and inspiration to me. My family encouraged me and said that I could also do something creative. One day, I saw a box with a geode on it, and thought, “Gosh, I can do this.”
What is a geode?
Geodes are hollow, unassuming rocks. When broken open, the interiors have sparkling crystals inside. Miners, like the ones we work with in Brazil, slice a bigger rock into pieces, and they are called sliced agate geodes. They are then polished. Sometimes I will attach pyrite onto it to give it that gold-rimmed look.
What does Pieces by Leslie offer?
There are three styles of glasses: wine, tumbler and champagne. But the options are endless. I’m a one man show, and you can come by appointment to choose your geodes. I can also FaceTime with people, and I have curated sets available that you can choose from, ready to go.
They are for everyday use. I want them to be used and enjoyed, but they are special pieces. They are like your grandmother’s fine crystal, so they need to be handled with care. Think of them as jewelry for your tabletop. They’re intentional and elevated gifts.
What are your goals for Pieces by Leslie in your first year in business?
I wasn’t sure how successful we would be, and I’ve been overwhelmed with support. I hope to just keep going. We want to keep doing pop-up parties where I bring my store to someone’s home. Everyone can pick a glass and then create their own. My goal for the next six months is to keep doing them and to do trunk shows and artist shows.
What else fuels you?
A friend gave me The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin. There’s a quote that says, “An idea does not belong to you. If you ignore the idea or do not act on it, it will eventually move on to someone else.” You have an antenna, and the universe is constantly sending out signals, and it’s your job to quiet your mind and receive. This motivated me: If I don’t act on this idea, then someone else is going to take it. Everyone has an idea, but not everyone acts on it.
PIECES BY LESLIE
piecesbyleslie.com
@pieces_by_leslie
PHOTO: Erik Meadows
